This coin was made for the reunion of US and Vietnamese Fighter Pilots when the US aircrews visited Hanoi in October, 2018. Here is a little back ground on the coin design from Tom Hanton, F-4 WSO and POW, who attended the reunion and was involved in the design of the coin:

​

"Background on the first meeting of the US and Vietnamese aircrews in 2017, that was held in San Diego, Ca.  Nine American former pilots and one RIO hosted the meeting with thirteen Vietnamese pilots in the US. The Americans went out on the internet and invited any/all of us who had tangled with Migs during the war, or who were just interested in it, to attend the meeting both to get good looks at the Mig pilots “up close and personal” and to add to the stories. I went. There were about 25—30 American former aviators in all. Among the Mig pilots were guys who had flown the Mig-17, the 19 and the 21, and among them were three retired Lt Generals. Two of the Lt Gens were aces with six kills each, and the other one had four. Most of the other ten pilots had American kills. Among the Americans were navy F-4 pilots and RIOs, USAF F-4 pilots and WSOs, F-105 pilots, and two navy guys who’d flown the A-1 and A-4. Our Navy Phantom crew who made ace, Randy Duke Cunningham and his RIO, Willy Driscoll, were there. Six American former POWs were there too, four Air Force and two navy." 

​

VIETNAMESE PILOTS: Mig-17, the 19 and the 21,  … at least 13 kills credited to them

US AIRCREWS: F-4,  F-105,  A-1,  A-4  ...  at least 5 kills credited to them

6 POWs

​

The Vietnamese invited the US group to Hanoi and a visit was made in October, 2018. As a token of good will, this coin was made and presented to the Vietnamese pilots.

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

​